New York City’s vast and often debated subway system has a newly crowned champion, at least according to the internet. After a bracket-style competition waged across eight rounds on Twitter, Smith-9th Streets station has officially been declared the city’s most beloved subway stop. This elevated station in Brooklyn triumphed over 200 other contenders, ultimately defeating Broadway Junction in a close final round.
The online poll, orchestrated by Williamsburg-based software engineer and self-proclaimed “railfan” Sunny Ng, captured the attention of New York’s passionate transit community. Ng, concerned about the evolving landscape of Twitter under new ownership, decided to harness the platform’s vibrant user base for a lighthearted yet decisive purpose: to determine, once and for all, New York City’s favorite subway station.
“In the last few weeks people have been leaving Twitter,” Ng explained in an interview with amNewYork Metro. “I figured it’s now or never,” to conduct this definitive poll.
New Yorkers are known for their strong opinions, and their subway stations are no exception. With 472 stations in the sprawling MTA system, narrowing down the options for a bracket was a challenge. Ng, who is also the developer behind Weekendest, an interactive subway service map, and Subwaydle, a transit-themed Wordle-inspired game, creatively tackled this logistical hurdle.
Software engineer Sunny Ng at Smith-9th Street Station, the winner of the NYC subway station Twitter poll
To manage the scale, Ng selected the 200 stations with the highest ridership from the week of December 5th to automatically advance to the main bracket. The remaining 56 slots were then filled through a qualifying round, leading to a head-to-head elimination tournament. It’s worth noting that station complexes with internal transfers, such as 42nd St-Times Square and 42nd St-Port Authority Bus Terminal, were considered as single entities for voting purposes, streamlining the process despite the MTA’s official separate designations.
As the competition progressed, the enthusiasm from subway aficionados escalated. Railfans actively campaigned for their preferred stations, celebrating victories and lamenting defeats. Vote counts swelled with each round, with individual matchups drawing hundreds of participants. Notably, major transit hubs like Times Square, Grand Central, Union Square, Atlantic Ave-Barclays Center, and Coney Island, despite their prominence, fell victim to the competitive spirit of the poll.
The final showdown pitted Smith-9th Streets against Broadway Junction, both Brooklyn stations, each with dedicated supporters and compelling reasons for their favor.
Ng remarked on the engaging nature of the contest, “I think it’s kind of interesting that the people of New York have such an interesting relationship with the subway system and subway stations, and have different reasons to vote for different stations. And it’s interesting to see why people vote a certain way.”
Smith-9th Streets, serving the F and G lines in the Gowanus neighborhood, boasts the unique distinction of being the world’s highest elevated subway station. Soaring approximately 9 stories above the Gowanus Canal, it offers unparalleled panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline and the surrounding cityscape, making it a visually striking stop within the transit network. This architectural marvel and breathtaking vista likely contributed to its popularity in the poll.
Exterior view of Smith-9th Street subway station in Brooklyn, New York, showcasing its elevated structure and urban surroundings
Broadway Junction, located in East New York, serves as a vital transfer hub for the A, C, J, L, and Z lines. This station, a mix of underground and elevated platforms situated adjacent to a train yard in an industrial area, provides a different kind of appeal. Its appeal lies in its raw functionality and the opportunity it provides to observe the intricate ballet of subway infrastructure that keeps New York City moving.
Throughout the Twitter tournament, votes were cast based on a diverse range of criteria, including station architecture, ease of navigation, convenient location, personal attachment, and various other subjective and objective factors.
When asked for his official stance on the results, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber playfully declined to favor any single station among his “472 children.”
“472 children, we love all of them,” Lieber quipped at an unrelated press conference in the Bronx. “They’re all great stations, and really, I defer to the wise men and women of Twitter to decide which is the #1 station.”
The Twitter poll served as a fun and engaging exercise, highlighting New Yorkers’ deep connection to their subway system and ultimately crowning Smith-9th Streets as a people’s choice favorite. While unofficial, the result reflects a genuine appreciation for a station that offers more than just transit – it provides a unique perspective on the city itself.
